Paper-cutter



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No. 478,935. Patented July 12, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. -A.- L. KARSHNER.

- PAPER. CUTTER. No. 478,935. I Patented July 12, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ALBERT L. KARSHN ER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PAPER-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,935, dated July 12,1892.

Application filed August 11, 1891- Serial No. 402,402. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. KARSHNER, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPaper-Outters; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in paper-cutters or to mechanismsmore especially designed for trimming wall-paper pre-' paratory tohanging the same.

The object of the improvement is to produce a device of the class statedwhich shall be of simple construction, economical in cost, reliable,durable, and efficient in operation, and which shall embody all featuresof advantage in a paper-trimming mechanism and reduce to a minimum thetime necessary in preparing the paper for the wall and facilitate to thegreatest possible extent the work of paper-hanging.

My improved device will be fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in positionfor use. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line was, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is arear view of the cutter. Fig. 4 is a crosssection of the strip providedwith a track for the cutter. Fig. 5 is a top view, on a small scale, ofthe device secured to the edge of the table or other suitable support,the adjustable rack being extended. Fig. 6 is an underneath view showingthe rack folded or closed. Fig. 7 is aninner edge view showing theretaining-needles. Fig. 8 is afragmentary View of the same on anenlarged scale. Fig. 9 is an enlarged underneath View showing the meansfor adjusting the retaining-needles. Fig. 10 is an outer edge view ofthe same.

Fig. 11 is a top fragmentary view showing a controlling-lever engaging aretaining-needle. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary underneath view of theadjustable rack.

ting track or way for the cutter, which is composed of theconcavo-convex rotating cuttingdisk 15, provided with the hub 16, thehandle 18, and the guide 19. The object of the metal bottom in groove 12is to give the user perfect control of the rotary cutter and prevent thesame from being guided out of a direct line, as might be the case if thebottom of the groove were of wood and the grain not perfectly straight.The metal bottom also forms a support for the disk as it rolls throughthe groove. The function of this bottom will be understood when it isconsidered that plate 14 will be gradually worn away by the engagementof the disk, making the groove larger and giving it more latitude ofmovement. It would thus seem that the metal bottom would beindispensable in this construction. The handle is provided with a neck20, projecting forward, to which the disk is pivoted by a screw-pin 21,which is threaded to engage a correspondingly-threaded aperture formedin the neck of the handle, but is smooth where it engages the hub of thedisk,

which rotates freely thereon. The guide 19 is rigidly secured to therear lower extremity of the handle fashioned to enter the groove inwhich the disk runs, and is so set as to maintain the disk uniformly inthe proper positionthat is to say, with its edge in engagement with thefree edge of plate 14, the concave face of the disk being next to theedge of this plate when the tool is in use, whereby the disk isautomaticallysharpened as it moves along its track in the regularperformance of its function.

Where the paper is very heavy and the most accurate work is desirable,it will be found advantageous to use my improved retaining means forholding the paper in place during the operation of cutting or trimming.This retaining means consists of springs 21 of any suitable lengthlocated within suitable recesses 22, formed in the inner edge of strip10, being secured at one extremity by rivets or in any other suitablemanner, and terminating at their opposite or free extremities inupwardly-projecting needles 25, adapted to enter vertical aperturesformed in strip and extending from recesses 22 to the upper surface ofthe strip, the needles being of sufficient length to protrude from thoseapertures, pass through the paper, and retain it in the proper position.The needles forming a part of spring 21, if left to themselves, normallyproject above the surface of the strip 10 and assume the operative orretaining position. It is, however, necessary that these needles shouldbe under control, since they are not always necessary, and in any eventthey must not project above the upper surface of the strip until thepaper has been placed in position. HenceI employ a series of smallbell-crank levers 26, one for each needle. These levers are locatedwithin a continuation of recesses 22 and are fulerumed at 27. Theforward extremity of each lever 26 is provided with anoutwardly-projecting lug 28, located above and engaging spring 21 nearthe base of the needle. The other arm of the lever projects below thesurface of the strip and is pivotally secured to connecting-rods 30, oneof which extends between each two levers, the last rod toward one end ofstrip 10 being secured to a short lever 35, fulcrumed to the undersurface of said strip, as shown at 36. One extremity of the lever ispivoted to the rod, as shown at 37, while the opposite extremity isnotched to engage a leaf-spring 40, secured to the outer edges of strip10. This lever is also provided with a button or small knob 45, forminga handpiece for use in manipulating the lever. \Vhen lever 35 isadjusted to engage spring 40, as shown in full lines in Fig. 9, theconnecting-rods are so regulated as to throw the outer extremity of theupper arm of levers 26 downward, thus withdrawing the needles from theupper surface of strip 10 and concealing them within the recesses 22.When the paper is in position, lever may be released and the needlesallowed to pass upward therethrough, for the purpose. hereinbeforestated. To the under side of strip 10 are pivotally secured a number ofshort folding arms 5, having their outer extremities connected byanother rod 6, to which the rods 5 are pivoted. This construction formsa supportingrack adapted to be extended for use, as shown in Fig. 5, orfolded or closed when not in use. This rack is designed for use when itis nec essary to divide a strip of paper longitudinally to cover placeson the wall too narrow to require a strip of full width. In this casethe rack supports one part of the divided strip as it is cut off.

I11 the use of my improved device-the strip 10 is secured to a table orother suitable support of the proper height by passing screws or othersuitable fastening devices through horizontal openings and extendingsaid fastenings into the edge of the table or other support used. Theadjustable folding rack is thrown out to the proper position if it isdesired to use the same, and the paper placed in position so that thepart to be trimmed oif shall lie to the left of the track 12, assumingthat the operator is standing at the right-hand end of Fig. 5 and facingtoward the opposite side of the sheet, which would be his properposition, as the mechanism is shown in that figure. On this assumptionthe adjustable rack would lie at his left hand and the part to betrimmed oif would lie at the left of the track or way 12. If the needles25 are to be used, the lever 35 is released, so that it occupies theposition shown by dotted lines in Fig. 9. The needles then spring upwardthrough the paper, or to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig.8.The cutter is then taken in the right hand and placed in the positionshown in Fig. 1, the edge of the rotating-disk and the rear guideengaging the track 12 just in front of the paper, the concave face ofthe disk being toward the right and so held that its edge shall beground upon the free edge of plate 14: as the disk rotates. The cutteris then moved forward upon the paper, which it cuts as it rolls along inits track. It will thus be seen that by reason of the track beingshallow the disk cuts downward upon the paper instead of having atendency to push the paper forward, also that the paper is immediatelysupported on each side of the cutting-line.

In consideration of these points, together with the self-sharpeningfeature and the general construction and operation, as hereinbeforedelineated, it will be observed that by the use of this device theoperation of cutting paper greatly simplified, the device beingconducive to first-class results when considered from the standpoints ofease and rapidity, as well as from that of the standard or quality ofthe work.

Ilaving thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In apaper-cutter, arotatingdisk suitably mounted, in combination with aguideway or track having a metal bottom and side plate, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

2. In a paper-cutter, the combination, with a rotating disk, of a stripof suitable material having a guide-track for the disk and retainingmechanism consisting of a plural number of spring-actuated needles and aseries of controlling-levers suitably connected and simultaneouslymanipulated for the purpose of releasing or depressing the needles,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT L. KARSHNER.

Witnesses:

WM. MoCoNNELL, G. J ROLLANDET.

